Molded pulp carton



Sept. 11, 1956 A. w. VAN DYKE MOLDED PULP CARTON 3 Sheets$heet 1 Filed April 12, 1954 MW wm 9 K624, LoFFLocKS ATTORNEY P 11, 1956 A. w. VAN IQDYKE 2,762,549

MOLDED PULP CARTON Filed April 12, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR m any @W ATTORNEY Sept. 11, 1956 A. w. VAN DYKE MOLDED PULP CARTON 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 12, 1954 INVENTOR W g. 9 Jam BY KR; l- Q.) .Hzs

ATTORNEY United States Patent MOLDED PULP CARTON Arthur W. Van Dyke, Elizabeth, N. J., assignor to The Diamond Match Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application April 12; 1954, Serial No. 422,467

' 11 Claims. c1.229 2.s

The present invention relates to molded pulp cartons. More particularly, the present invention relates to a molded pulp carton that is adapted to be utilized for the packaging and display of food products and the like.

The molded pulp cartons known heretofore utilized for the purpose of displaying and packaging pies, cakes, eggs, and other food products, have been generally molded in a specific configuration. These heretofore known molded cartons were formed either in a cellular formation or were of the open type. The carton embodied in the present invention is the open type carton and is distinguished from the cellular carton, which is defined as that type adapted to receive eggs or other frangible objects.

Prior to the instant invention, the molded pulp cartons which have been utilized heretofore for the packaging and display of food products and the like such as, for example, pies and cakes, were formed with relatively short side walls, the side walls being sloped to provide for nesting of the cartons when the cartons were handled for shipping. Normally, the article to be displayed in these heretofore known cartons projects above the side walls thereof and if the article displayed is of the type that can be easily damaged by pressure, such as a cake, then the cartons complete with the article cannot be stacked one on the other and thereby consumes valuable store space. If a molded carton is utilized that is formed with a cover or side walls of sufiicient dimension to protect the food article displayed therein, then a shipping problem is created, since this type of carton heretofore could not be nested with similarly formed cartons. Since the cartons must be shipped to the user in relatively large quantities, the amount of cartons delivered is materially decreased due to the fact that these heretofore known molded cartons having protecting walls or covers must be stacked one on the other. This not only creates a shipping problem but furthermore increases the cost of the carton.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a molded pulp carton that is formed with supporting or protecting members that are adapted to support similarly formed cartons thereon, the cartons being adapted to be stacked complete with the articles to be displayed disposed therein.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a molded pulp carton which includes supporting members, the supporting members being molded in a nesting position and thereafter being moved to a display position.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a molded pulp carton which includes a center panel which has joined thereto a plurality of supporting posts, the supporting posts being adapted to support similarly formed cartons thereon when the carton is disposed in a display position.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a molded pulp carton which includes a center panel and a plurality of supporting posts, the walls of the supporting posts being molded divergent to the center panel and thereby defining a nesting position.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a molded pulp carton having a plurality of supporting members for supporting similarly formed cartons thereon, the corners of said supporting members being divergent with respect to the bottom wall thereof, thereby locating supporting edges formed on the supporting members in a supporting position for receiving the similarly formed cartons thereon.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a molded pulp carton that is formed on a single mold and stripped therefrom, the walls of said carton being formed in generally divergent relation, thereby providing for the nesting of the carton with similarly formed cartons.

Other objects and the nature and advantages of the instant invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the bottom of the carton embodied in the present invention illustrating the position of the carton as it is stripped from the molding die;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the carton illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view illustrating a plurality of cartons nested together for shipping or storing purposes;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the molded carton after it has been moved from the nesting position to the display position;

Fig. 5 is a view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 illustrates two of the molded cartons embodied in the present invention in a stacked position;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a modified carton shown in the molded position;

Fig. 8 is an end elevational view of the carton shown in Fig.7; and

Fig. 9 is an end elevational view of the modified carton being illustrated in the display position.

For the purpose of describing the present invention, the molded carton is described herein as being molded in a nesting-position and being utilized in a display position. The nesting position refers to that position of the carton in which it is molded and in which it is adapted to be nested with similar cartons for the purpose of shipping or storing. The display position refers to that position in which the molded carton is disposed after being moved from the nesting position and in which it is adapted to receive food articles or the like for the purpose of display.

Generally, the present invention comprises a molded carton that is molded in an open or nesting position and is directed toward the open type container. This type of container is distinguished from the cellular container which includes the heretofore known cellular egg carton. The carton described herein is formed of a molded pulp material and includes a center panel having joined thereto at the corners thereof supporting posts. The walls of the supporting posts are molded in divergent relation with respect to the center panel and in the molded form define the nesting position of the carton. When the carton is moved to the display position, the supporting posts are rotated with respect to the center panel, such that the bottom walls thereof are moved into a common plane with the center panel. In order for the supporting posts to support similarly formed cartons thereon, the corners of the side walls thereof are inclined inwardly with respect to the interior of the carton, thereby locating the corner posts in a supporting position. The top edges of the Walls of the supporting posts are then adapted to receivei'a'. similarly formed. carton thereon for stacking purposes.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the carton embodied herein includes a center panel .10. Hingedly joined to the center panel atthe corners thereof and along fold lines 12 are supporting posts. generally indicated. at 14. Each of the supporting posts 14 comprises a triangularly shaped bottom wall 16 which has: joined thereto side walls 18 and 20, the sidewalls. 18. and 20. being; joined at the corner of the supporting post along a line 22. Both of the side walls i8, 26 are polygonal in configuration being formed with shortened upper edges 24 and 26, respectively, which define the supporting edges for the supporting posts. It is understood that it. is within the scopev of the present invention to. formv the; side walls 18, 20' in any known geometric configuration wherein upper supporting edges are formed thereon. As shown particularly in Fig. 2, when the. carton is molded, the triangular bottom walls 16 are located in planes that are divergent to the center panel 10, the side walls 18. and 20 of the supporting posts 14- also being located in divergent planes with respect to the. center, panel 10 but being disposed in fixed relation to the adjacent supporting post bottom wall 16.

Inforder for the supporting edges 24, 26 of. the side Wallstov support similarly formed cartons thereon, these edges'jmust' be, projected inwardly toward the interior of the, carton. By positioning the supporting edges in this manner, stacking of the cartons is assured since-thebottom wall. of a similarly formed cartonwill not fall between thesupporting edges but will rest thereon. In order to carry out this stacking principle, lines 22 defining the corners of the supporting. posts. 14 are molded divergent to.- the; bottom. walls 16 anddefinean angle of less than 90 therewith. By forming the corner lines divergent tov the bottomlwallsv 16,. the horizontal projections of the supporting: edges; 24, 2.6.- are positioned inwardly of the edges defining the intersection, of the side walls and bottom walls. Asshown particularly in Fig. 4, the horizontal projections of the supporting edges 24, 26; are therefore located; withinthe area defined by the center panel 14) and bottom walls 16 of the depending portions" 14 when they carton; is disposed in the. display position. and the supporting edges 24,. 26 will: there-by positively support similarly. formed, cartons placed thereon.

Wh'enthe molded cartons. are nested, the center panel 10; of each cartonis disposed in parallelrelation'asshown ,in-Fig, 3, and the walls ofv each of' the supporting posts are also-disposediinparallel relation, thereby enablingthe. cartonsto nest Within one.- another. bymolding; the cartons in. the nesting position, a great number.- of cartons may be packaged for shipping or storing,. w.hich. would not be possibleif the molded: carton described hereinwere formed in the position of its end use. As contrasted with the heretofore known molded car-tons, eventhough the side walls of the supporting posts 1.43 are molded having any dimension desired, the car-ton is still capable of being nested'with, adjacent cartonsfor the purposeof. shippingor storing.

The-carton embodied in. the present invention. as de scribed above is molded fromg a pulp material and is adapted to-bes-trippedfrom the molding: dies in. the open or nested positiom By moldingthe cartonin the nesting. pos-ition,,the stripping operation is-greatly. facilitated, particularly since the walls. of. the supporting,posts.14. are located in: divergent. relation, with. respect to. the center panel, 10.

- The descriptionof the carton described above 'has been directed. to the manner in which the carton is actually molded and' to the configuration of the molded carton. It is apparent that the carton in this position is not to be used" for display purposes, and therefore, thesupport ingi posts 14', mustbe rotated" into the display positions Referring now to Figs; 4 and" 5, the moldedcarton is illustrated after the, supporting posts 1'4- have been ro- It is apparent that tated' from the nesting position to the display position. When the supporting posts 14 are moved to the display position shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the triangular bottom walls 16 with the side walls 18 and 20 joined thereto are rotated around the fold lines 12 to assume a position whereby the bottom walls 16 are disposed in a common plane with the center panel 10. In actual use, the article to be displayed, such as a cake 30 (Fig. 6) is placed on the center panel 10, the weight of the cake forcing the supporting posts to rotate around the fold lines 12 to the display position. After the supporting posts 14 have been rotated tothe display position, the bottom of' the carton assumes a square configuration as illustrated in Fig. 4. However, it is; understood that the-spiritof the present invention can be incorporated in any molded type carton wherein corners are provided for supporting purposes.

In the display position, the corner lines 22, which form the: corners of the supporting posts. 14, define thecorners of the carton. By forming the walls of the supporting. posts 14 suclrthat they extend above the object or article adapted to be received by the center panel 10,. the article will; then be protected from damageif. a. similarly formed carton: is. placed on. the supporting edges 24, 26 of the. supporting posts. As set forth above, in order that thesupporting edges 24, 26 of the supporting posts; 14' properly receive a similarly formed carton thereon, the supporting. side walls 18, 20 of the supporting postsare molded so that. they are inclined slightly inwardly toward. the interior of; the carton. The side Walls thus form an angle. less than. with. respect. to. the bottom.walls.16

of each supporting post. Therefore, by forming theside walls 18:, 20 divergent to the bottom walls v16, the: supporting". edges are positioned within the; area of thelbottom: of: the carton as. located in: the. display position and the carton may be conveniently stacked with other cartons; illustrated-in: Fig; 6,v two' molded cartons. of the: type descrihedherein are shown in stacked. relation, the side walls. of the supportingpostsi of the lower carton being. slightly inclined toward the interior thereof, the upper edges of'thesidewalls thereby providingthe supporting; means for receivingthe'bottom Wall of. the upper carton. It; is. apparent that by forming the-lower carton with the supportingiposts 14, if an article. such as, forexample, the cake. 30, is disposed. orplaced. therein, itwill be protected from damage when. the carton is placed in. the stackedposition. By utilizingcartons incorporating: the supportingzposts. described,.many cartons. may be stacked. one; upon: the' other, therebyconservingi valuable: storage. or shipping space; and furthermore: eliminating the possi:

bility of'damagingthe: article displayed. in the: cartons due to: the; weight. of: other cartons stacked thereon;

Referring: now to: Figs. 7-9, a modifiedform of theinvention is" illustrated and includes: a: center panel& 34 which: has; hingedly joined, thereto alongv fold. lines; 36. supporting posts, generally indicated at 38. Each: of: the supporting. posts. 38. comprises a trapezoidal-shaped bottom. wall'. 40: which: has joined thereto side: walls 42 and.44;.the. side.- walls; 42, 44' in turnbeing joined to a rear-J wall14'6. Thev sidewalls 42,. 44 and rear walls 46 of: the; supporting: posts 38 define an. upper edge which forms the supporting edges for the supporting-postswhich are adaptedto. receive. thereon similar cartons when the carton". is? disposed. in. the, display position. As illustrated in; Figs. 7' and 8', whenithe. carton is molded,, thetrape-- zoid'al-shapeibott'om; walls. 40. are: locatedin planesthat are divergent to the center panel 34, the side walls- 18, 20 and; rear wall 46 also being located in: planes: that' are divergent tothe center panel. 10: but being, disposed in fixedirelation'. to the. bottomzwall40; Figs. 7' and. 8 illustI'a-tE/th'Q-POSitlOIIOf'. the carton-as it isstripped fromthe mold: and. in this. position the. carton is; adapted to/be nested with similar cartons for storing or. shipping. When.

it is' desired to: positionithecarton. in the display position so that it: may receive an: article: for display, the sup.-

porting posts are rotated around the fold lines 36 so that the bottom walls 40 are disposed in a common plane with the center panel 34. In this position, as shown in Fig. 9, the side walls 42, 44 and rear wall 46 are inclined inwardly and thereby define an angle less than 90 with respect to the center panel 34. As described above, the purpose of inclining the walls of the supporting posts is to enable the upper edges 46 of the supporting posts to receive similar cartons thereon. It may be seen that an article such as a cake or the like if placed in the carton will then be protected when the carton is nested with other similar cartons.

It is apparent from the above that the present invention is an advance over the old style molded cake plate or dish, which merely provided a receptacle for the cake or article placed therein. The present invention includes a carton that is simply and economically molded with supporting posts which are formed of suflicient dimensions to adequately protect a cake or the like placed therebetween when the carton is stacked with similarly formed cartons.

The present invention provides a carton that is not only economically desirable to manufacture, but also enables the user to conserve valuable storage or shipping space. The carton in the molded or nesting position may be nested for shipment or storage with as many cartons as practically possible and then simply and quickly moved to the display position to receive a cake or the like therein for display purposes. The carton in addition to protecting the article disposed therein provides an open container for fully viewing the article. If desirable, a convenient over-wrap may be secured to the underside of the container and wrapped around the top of the article and then secured to the underside of the carton by some convenient means.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and therefore the invention is not limited to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specification but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a molded pulp carton, a center panel, a plurality of corner posts joined to said center panel, each of said corner posts comprising a bottom wall hingedly connected to said center panel and side walls having upper edges parallel with said bottom wall, said corner post bottom walls being divergent to said center panel when said carton is molded and thereafter being moved into coplanar relation with said center panel when said carton is disposed in a display position, said corner post side walls defining corner lines, said corner lines being divergent to said bottom walls when said carton is disposed in the display position, the upper edges of said side walls thereby being disposed inwardly of the bottom of said carton and defining supporting edges for receiving additional cartons placed thereon.

2. In a molded pulp carton, a center panel, a plurality of corner posts joined in hinged relation to said center panel, each of said corner posts including a bottom Wall joined to said center panel and side walls defining supporting members, said corner post bottom walls being divergent to said center panel when said carton is molded, thereby providing for nesting of the carton with similarly formed cartons, said bottom walls thereafter being moved into coplanar relation with said center panel, thereby forming a carton for receiving an article for display, said corner post side walls being inclined in the display position to provide supports for receiving other objects thereon.

3. In a molded pulp carton, a center panel, a plurality of corner posts hingedly joined to said center panel, each of said corner posts including a bottom wall and side walls, said bottom walls being molded divergent to said center panel and being moved into a common plane therewith when the carton is moved to the display position, said side walls being inclined inwardly toward the interior of said carton when said corner posts are disposed in the display position thereby forming supporting members for supporting additional objects thereon.

4. In a molded pulp carton, a center panel, corner posts joined to said center panel, each of said corner posts including a triangular bottom wall, one side of which is hingedly joined to the center panel and the other sides of which have side walls joined thereto, said corner posts being molded in a nesting position whereby the triangular bottom walls are divergent to the center panel and thereafter being moved to a display position whereby the triangular bottom walls are coplanar with said center panel and cooperate therewith to receive thereon an article for display, said side walls being inclined inwardly in the display position for supporting additional cartons thereon, thereby protecting the article displayed in said carton.

5. In a molded pulp carton, a center panel, corner supporting posts hingedly secured to said center panel depending therefrom, each of said supporting posts having supporting edges formed thereon, the vertical projection of said supporting edges falling within the area defined by the bottom of the carton when said carton is disposed in a display position, said supporting edges thereby being adapted to receive similarly formed cartons thereon for protecting an article displayed in said carton.

6. In a molded pulp carton, a center panel, corner supporting posts hingedly secured to said center panel, each of said supporting posts including a bottom wall and side walls, said side walls defining an angle of less than with said bottom walls so that the vertical projections of the upper edges of said side walls fall within the area defined by the bottom of the carton when said carton is disposed in a display position, said upper edges thereby defining supporting means and being adapted to receive similarly formed cartons thereon for protecting an article displayed in said carton.

7. In a molded pulp carton as set forth in claim 6, wherein said bottom wall is formed in a trapezoidal configuration.

8. In a molded pulp carton, a center panel, corner supporting posts hingedly secured to said center panel, each of said supporting posts including side walls which define an angle of less than 90 with the bottom of the carton when said carton is disposed in a display position, the upper edges of said side Walls thereby being adapted to receive similarly formed cartons thereon for protecting an article displayed in said carton, said supporting posts further including a trapezoidal-shaped bottom wall, and a rear wall being integrally joined to said bottom wall and being formed perpendicular thereto.

9. A container comprising a center panel and a plurality of corner posts, said corner posts being hingedly connected to said center panel and being pivotally movable from an inoperative position to an operative position, said corner posts including side walls which are inwardly inclined, thereby defining means for supporting objects thereon.

10. In a molded pulp carton, a center panel, supporting members hingedly joined to said center panel, each of said supporting members including a bottom wall, said bottom walls being molded divergent to said center panel, thereby providing for nesting of the carton with similarly formed cartons and being moved to a display position whereby said bottom walls are disposed in a common plane with said center panel and cooperate with said center panel in the display position to receive an article for display therein, each of said supporting members including side walls having supporting edges, said side walls being inclined inwardly toward the interior of said carton whereby the vertical projection of said supporting edges lies Within the area defined by the bottom of the carton when said carton is disposed in the display position.

11. In a molded pulp carton, a center panel, a plurality of corner posts hingedly joined to said center panel, each of said corner posts including a bottom Wall and side walls, each of said bottom walls being molded in a diiferent plane than said center panel and rotatable about the hinge axis thereof, said bottom walls being located in coplanar relation with respect to said center section in the rotated position, and said side walls being inwardly inclined to define means for supporting other cartons thereon.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Greene Nov. 7, Kinney 1 May 10, Dishmaker l Jan. 12, Miller Oct. 21, Fraser July 19, Loth Mar. 16, Thorup June 15, Brogden n Aug. 10, Means Nov. 29, Ray Ian. 5, 

